Blocking-machine.



No. 863,344. PATENTEDAUG. 13, 1907.

P. L; ATHERTON'LY BLOCKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED APR.24.1906.

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FREDERICK L. ATHERTON, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY.

BLOCKING-MACHINE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed April 24,1906. Serial No. 313,460.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK L. ATHERTON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Paterson, in the county of Passaic and State of New Jersey, have invented a new and Improved Blocking-Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to machines for winding ribbons onto spools or blocks, and its object is to provide a new and improved blocking machine arranged to permit the convenient insertion of a spool or block, to securely hold the latter in place during the winding operation and to allow the quick removal of the block and the ribbon wound thereon.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, which will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention 1s represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement, parts being shown in section and Fig. 2 is an enlarged transverse section of the head.

On a suitably constructed frame A is journaled a longitudinally extending shaft B carrying a head 0 provided with a face place 0 having radial slots 0 in which are mounted to slide jaws D for engaging and clamping one end of the block or spool on which ribbon is to be wound. The head 0 is made hollow and from the jaws D project inwardly pins or studs D extending into elongated slots E formed on arms E pivoted at E to the inner surface of the face plate 0. The two arms E are connected with each other by a spring F to hold the arms normally in an innermost position, and, consequently, to hold the jaws D in an innermost position, as indicated in Fig. 2. The free ends of the arms E are engaged by cams G secured on a shaft G journaled in the head 0, and on the said shaft G is secured a handle G2 extending through an opening G formed in the rim of the head 0, the free end G of the handle extending into a recess or depression 0 formed in the rim of the head 0, as plainly indicated in the drawings. By this arrangement the operator can conveniently take hold of the free end G of the handle G so as to bring the handle transversely in an outward direction whenever it is desired to open the jaws D, it being understood that such a movement of the handle Gr causes the cams G to move the arms E outwardly against the tension of the spring F. Now, the outward swinging motion of the arms E causes an outward sliding of the jaws D to move the same from the center of the head, to allow the convenient placing of the block in position against the face plate 0-, and when this has been done the operator swings the handle G back to its former position, so that the jaws D move towards each other and centrally clamp the block or spool in position on the face plate 0 of the head C. By the arrangement described the jaws D are held in clamping position relative to the block by the action of the spring F, which is sufficiently strong to cause the block to rotate with the head 0 to permit convenient winding of the ribbon onto the peripheral surface of the block.

The outer end of the block or spool. is adapted to be engaged by a disk H mounted to rotate loosely on a rod- I having an annular groove I into which projects a set screw H screwing in the hub of the disk H. By this arrangement the disk II is held against longitudinal movement on the rod I, and, at the same time, is free to participate of the rotary motion given to the block held on and rotating with the head C. The rod I is mounted to slide longitudinally in suitable bearings arranged on a support .I mounted to slide longitudinally on a guideway A forming part of the frame A. The support I is adjusted on the guideway A according to the length of the blocks or spools used at a time, the support being fastened in place after the desired adjustment is made by the use of a key J held on the support I and engaging a longitudinal groove or key way in the guideway A. A handled screw rod J screws on the support J and butts against the key .I, so as to lock the latter in place in the key-way of the guideway A after the desired adjustment is made, to securely hold the support .I in position.

The outer end of the rod I is provided with a pin or stud I projecting into an elongated slot K formed in an arm K fulcrumed at K on the support .I. A spring L presses the arm K to normally hold the latter, and, consequently, the rod I and the disk H in an innermost position, with the face of the disk H engaging the outer end of the block or spool. The pivoted arm K is engaged by a cam N secured on a shaft N journaled on the support .I, and on the said shaft N is secured a handle N under the control of the operator for turning the shaft N to cause the cam N to swing the arm K outwardly and with it the rod I and the disk H, to move the latter out of engagement with the outer end of the block' or spool. The cam N is shaped in such a manner that when the handle N is swung below a horizontal position, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, then the arm K is locked in this position so as to permit the operator to conveniently remove a filled block from the head 0 and allow the insertion of an empty block, after which the handle N is swung back to a vertical position to allow the spring L to swing the arm K inwardly with a view to move the disk H in engagement with the outer end of the block. The return swinging motion of the handle N is limited by a stop N formed on the pivotal end of the handle N and adapted to butt against the pivotal end of the arm K.

In order to rotate the shaft B and, consequently, the head 0, the shaft B is provided with a friction clutch member 0 adapted to be engaged by a friction clutch pulley O mounted to rotate loosely on the shaft B and connected by belt with other machinery for imparting a rotary motion to the pulley. A shifting lever P engages the clutch pulley O and is connected by a link Q with a treadle R under the control of the operator, and the lever P is drawn by a spring S to normally hold the lever P in a rearward position, that is, to hold the clutch pulley 0 out of frictional engagement with the clutch member 0. Now, when it is desired to rotate the head 0, the operator presses the treadle B so that a swinging motion is given to the shifting lever P, which moves the clutch pulley O in frictional engagement with the clutch member 0 and, consequently, the rotary motion of the clutch pulley O is transmitted to the clutch member 0, the shaft B and the head 0.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the operator, by manipulating the handle Gr as described, can readily move the jaws D and D into an open or closed position, to allow the convenient placing of the block or spool in position on the face plate 0 of the head 0, and to securely clamp the block or spool in central position thereon. By the operator manipulating the handle N the disk H can be bodily moved in and out of engagement with the outer end of the block or spool, thus supporting the outer end and forming with the face plate 0 guide flanges to enable the operator to properly wind the ribbon or a like article on the block or spool as soon as the head 0 is rotated by the operator pressing the treadle R, as previously explained.

The blocking machine shown and described is very simple and durable in construction, and the operator can conveniently and quickly manipulate the actuating devices to fill a large number of blocks or spools with ribbons or a like article in a comparatively short time.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A blocking machine provided with a revoluble head having a radially slotted face plate, jaws mounted to slide in the radial slots of the face plate, spring-pressed arms pivoted in the head and engaging the said jaws, and a cam handle for actuating the said arms to move the jaws from each other, the free end of the handle extending through the rim of the head to the outside thereof.

2. A blocking machine provided with a revoluble head having a radially slotted face plate, jaws mounted to slide in the radial slots of the face plate, spring-pressed arms pivoted in the head and engaging the said jaws, and a cam handle for actuating the said arms to move the jaws from each other, the free end of the handle extending through the rim of the head to the outside thereof, the said rim having a depression for containing the free end of the handle. I

3. A blocking machine provided with a revoluble head having a radially slotted face plate, jaws mounted to slide in the radial slots of the face plate, spring-pressed arms pivoted in the head, and having elongated slots engaging pins on the said jaws, a cam shaft journaled in the head and provided with cams engaging the free ends of the said arms, and a handle on the said shaft.

4. A blocking machine comprising a frame, a revoluble head journaled in the said frame, jaws slidable on the said head, a manually controlled mechanism for actuating the said jaws, a revoluble disk opposite the said head,' a rod on which the said disk is mounted to turn freely, a manually-controlled device for imparting a sliding motion to the said rod, a support for the said rod and the said manually controlled device, and guideways on the said frame and on which the said support is adjustahly secured.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

FREDERICK L. ATHERTON.

Witnesses:

IRA DUMONT, RALPH GARLICK. 

